Comparative politics research topics
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Comparative politics is a subfield that focuses broadly on the study of politics beyond the United States. Our faculty and graduate and undergraduate course offerings cover a wide variety of topics including: dictatorship and democracy, comparative and international political economy, legislatures, courts, political parties, and voting and elections.
Professors with an Interest in Comparative Politics
Graduate StudiesComparative politics is a field that develops and tests theories to explain political events and patterns across political systems, largely, but not exclusively, nation-states. It also incorporates substantive description of political phenomena relevant to such explanation. In American political science this has largely come to mean description and explanation of politics in countries outside the United States. The field requirements in comparative politics comprehend three elements: an overview of the comparative field in general, usually gained by taking the comparative politics field seminar (PSCI 550), and courses in two substantive subfields. This knowledge can be acquired through three graduate courses taken during your first two or three years of graduate study. Only if appropriate courses are not offered, will it be necessary to supplement formal courses with independent study. For more information see the complete list of PhD requirements and complete list of course offerings. Overview of the Comparative FieldAn overview of the comparative field will be presented in PSCI 550: Comparative Politics Field Seminar. This course is designed to introduce some “classic works” and some recent approaches in the various subfields of comparative politics. It will also introduce various methodological approaches and issues in the comparative field, including research design and measurement of important concepts. Unless explicitly waived, this course is a prerequisite for students taking the comparative politics field examination. SubfieldsMajor substantive subfields in comparative politics include, but are not limited to: democratization and development; conflict and revolution; democratic political processes; comparative parties and elections; comparative political institutions; and comparative political economy. It is also possible to organize research and knowledge in comparative politics by cultural or political regions. If a graduate-level course is offered in comparative politics, it is reasonable to assume that the course syllabus comprises an acceptable basis for your preparation in a subfield. It is assumed that students will take at least three graduate comparative seminars as preparation for the comparative field. These courses are unlikely to be offered every year, so students should consult with faculty and plan their schedules accordingly. Organization of the Field ExaminationThe field examination is a written examination. In principle, it may be written at any point in the year, but you are advised to discuss your plans with a relevant faculty member well ahead of time. The exam will consist of two parts, with a choice of questions for each part. Barring exceptional circumstances, students will be given eight hours to answer each part, and the parts will be administered on successive days. A strict word limit will be specified for each part. The syllabi from two of your required substantive courses (not including the Field Seminar) will be used to generate the questions for the exam. In general, the examination will be written and read by the faculty members who taught the courses used to generate the exam. If an examination scheduled to accommodate you falls at a particularly inconvenient time for relevant faculty, this may produce delay in reading and returning the examination to you. Normally, however, examinations are read and returned within two weeks. Results are ultimately reported as "pass" or "fail." In indeterminate cases, the examining faculty may offer you the opportunity to rewrite part of the examination before a final decision is reached. DataQualitative Data, Country Information
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Funding & GrantsInternational Field Research GrantsThe Department of Political Science at the University of Rochester offers two types of grants to support graduate students conducting field research: External Sources of FundingSummer Seed Grants for International Field ResearchPURPOSESummer Seed Grants support University of Rochester political science graduate students engaged in short-term field research outside of the United States. The purpose of the grant is to foster exploratory pre-dissertation research and/or provide supplemental resources for students engaged in summer field research for their dissertations. ELIGIBILITYFirst through fourth year PhD students in political science are eligible to apply for seed grants of up to $3,000. The level of funding will reflect the amount of time spent in the field and other budgetary constraints. Priority will be given to doctoral students writing a dissertation in comparative politics. Students may apply for summer seed grants each year, but priority will be given to students who have not previously received seed grant money. Note that second-year students will need to obtain approval from a faculty member for their second-year paper project prior to receiving funding to go abroad. APPLICATIONApplication materials are due by March 1. Grant awards will be made no later than April 10th. The application includes:
International Field Research Dissertation GrantsPURPOSEField Research Dissertation Grants support University of Rochester Political Science graduate students engaged in dissertation research outside of the United States. The purpose of the grant is to enable students to conduct field research necessary for completing their dissertations. ELIGIBILITYThird year PhD students in political science are eligible to apply for an International Field Research Dissertation Grant to conduct field work for at least one semester during the academic year of their fourth year. Grants of up to $9,000 will be made to supplement graduate stipends during the period spent abroad conducting dissertation field research. The level of funding will reflect the amount of time spent in the field and other budgetary constraints. Priority will be given to students writing a dissertation in comparative politics. To be eligible to apply for the department’s International Field Research Grant, it is required that all students also apply for at least one outside dissertation field research grant, preferably during the fall of their third year. It is each student’s responsibility to identify appropriate external funding opportunities and to apply for such grants in a timely matter. Students awarded the department's International Field Research Grant must complete their dissertation defense prior to receiving the funding to go abroad. APPLICATIONApplication materials are due by March 1. Grant awards will be made no later than April 10th. The application includes:
Note: Students who receive a Field Research Dissertation Grant or external funding will be eligible to apply for the Dean of Graduate Studies Post-field Research Dissertation Write-up Fellowship for sixth year funding. (Students will be informed by the DGS about the College’s relevant deadline and requirements, or you may contact the Graduate Studies office for further information.) General Research
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